Mission

Vision

We envision a healthy environment, prosperous economy and equitable society where leaders are equipped with the relationships, skills and perspective needed to work collaboratively to solve systemic and complex environmental problems.

Core Values

Better Together

Open Exchange

We authentically engage to hear all voices, find common ground and build community.

Courageous Innovation

An entrepreneurial culture filled with leaders who tackle the big problems with our partners.

Outcome Focused

A solutions-minded and action-oriented ethos.

Accountability

Responsible planning, management and use of the resources entrusted to us to realize our mission.

Stewardship

Improving our environment, economy and community by seeking the best of all ideas.

History

Our founders recognized we can do better for the environment by working together.

In early 1992, leaders from seemingly adversarial interests came together around this vision of partnership. Brett Johnson of BRJP Publishing convened a group of leading Minnesota businesses, environmental advocacy nonprofits and state agencies to discuss a collaborative model for problem solving. The organization grew out of these early conversations, and was founded under the name Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI). Ciaran Mannion served as the organizations first Executive Director and worked tirelessly to put MEI’s mission into action.

Now called Environmental Initiative, we carry forward the tradition of building partnerships to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota’s environmental problems. Outcomes of Environmental Initiative’s work range from thousands of diesel engines retrofitted with pollution-reducing equipment through Project Green Fleet to the Clean Water Legacy Act that aims to clean up state’s lakes, rivers and streams.

Our founders chose to incorporate the word initiative into our name to reflect their vision that dialogue and collaboration would result in concrete action for a better environment. More than two decades after our founding, Environmental Initiative still represents a nationally unique model for environmental problem solving.

Financials

We take your investment in our organization seriously, and we put every dollar to work to build partnerships to solve environmental problems. Our annual reports and financial statements provide you with an overview of our key accomplishments and what your support makes possible.